Seoul: Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. (KAI), South Korea's sole aircraft manufacturer, announced a significant rise in its fourth-quarter net profit, reaching 62.1 billion won (US$42.3 million), marking a 400.8 percent increase compared to the previous year. The company's financial performance highlights a period of substantial growth.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the operating profit for the October-December period was 77 billion won, reflecting an 82.9 percent increase from the same period last year. Additionally, sales saw a notable rise of 34 percent, amounting to 1.46 trillion won.

The company's earnings surpassed market expectations, as analysts had estimated an average net profit of 56.9 billion won, based on a survey conducted by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency. This performance underscores the company's strong market position and operational efficiency.